Di Matteo defends Drogba's 'time-wasting' frolics against Barcelona

London,
Sat, 21 Apr 2012ANI

London, Apr 21(ANI): Interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has hit back at critics who have condemned striker Didier Drogba's time-wasting antics against Barcelona during the first leg of their Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

According to a statistician Drogba was guilty of six minutes' time wasting against Barcelona, which interrupted their flow, but Di Matteo believes every team indulges in such tactics once they are leading a game.

"Listen, you know how many times we were behind and other teams wasted time against us?" The Telegraph quoted Di Matteo, as saying.

"Many times. Every team does it. Let me tell you, Barcelona do it as well. Drogba was very helpful to the team. He gave us an outlet and scored a vital goal. I was very pleased with him. He was marked most of the time by two men and got a physical battering," he added.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had earlier revealed he had a word with under fire Ashley Young over his diving antics lately, but Di Matteo refused to follow Ferguson's example.

"No, because I don't see any reason for a conversation like that. Our players are fair players," he said. (ANI)